Elevator



Oct. 13, 1964 v R. M. CARRIER, JR

ELEVATOR s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1962 Hlllli! ifip Oct. 13, 1964 R. M. CARRIER, JR 3,152,683

ELEVATOR Filed Aug. 20. 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oczt. 13, 1964 i R. CARRIER, JR 3,152,633

' ELEVATOR Filed Aug. 20. 1962 s sheets-sheet s Oct. 13, 1964 R. M. CARRIER, JR

ELEVATOR 6 Sheets -Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 20, 1962 Oct; 13, 1964 R. M. CARRIER, JR

ELEVATOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 20. 1962 Oct. 13, 1964 R. M. CARRIER, JR

ELEVATOR Filed Aug. 20, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I 4 56 k //l VELOCITY 0F q i I g- I 45 I 4 55 MATERIAL L t y a Q [I Hllll I! 3% 1 k f 1 fi l I a TYME i 4/]: d g g y i C Q 4225 I I VELOCITY g I 0F CARP/El? I I v 3,152,683 ELEVATOR Robert M. Carrier, In, Louisville, Ky, assignor to Carrier Manufacturing Co., a corporation of Kentucky Filed Aug. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 218,088 18 Claims. (Ci. 198-75) This invention relates to material handling equipment, and in particular, to an elevator for elevating material capable of being moved horizontally as by means of a horizontally arranged conveyor. Thus, the elevator of the present invention is arranged to elevate discrete elements, fluids, continuous media, pulverulent, granular material and the like.

In my copending application Serial No. 218,087 filed August 20, 1962, for an Elevator, I have disclosed and claimed an improved elevator apparatus utilizing centrifugal force to retain the material against a cylindrical surface so as to be engaged by and drawn upwardly by a plurality of associated plows. The present invention is directed to elevator apparatus utilizing centrifugal force in conjunction with conveyor apparatus generally of the type arranged to convey material horizontally. Thus, a principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved elevator apparatus.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such elevator apparatus including conveyor means for conveying material in a preselected direction, means for rotating the conveyor means about an axis inclined upwardly to the horizontal and parallel to the preselected direction, to move the conveyor means bodily in an annular path and maintain the material by centrifugal force in conveyable association With the conveyor means, and means operating the conveyor to convey the material upwardly in the preselected direction during the rotation thereof.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such elevator apparatus wherein a single powered driver drives each of the rotating and conveyor operating means.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such elevator apparatus wherein a plurality of conveyors are provided in balanced relationship in the elevator apparatus.

A yet further feature of the invention is the provision of such elevator apparatus wherein the conveyor comprises a belt conveyor.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such elevator apparatus wherein the conveyor comprises a screw conveyor.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such an elevator apparatus wherein the conveyor comprises a shaker conveyor.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a broken side elevation of an elevator apparatus embodying the invention; a a

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary diametric vertical sectio of the lower portion thereof;

I FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of an elevator apparatus similar to that of FIG. 1 but having a modified material feed;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section thereof taken substantially along the line 77 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary diametric section thereof taken substantially along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

3,152,583 Patented Oct. 13, 1964 FIGURE 9 is a broken side elevation of a second form of elevator apparatus embodying the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line 11-11 thereof;

FIGURE 12 is a broken side elevation of a third form of elevator apparatus embodying the invention;

FIGURE 13 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 14 is a framentary vertical section thereof taken substantially along the line 14-14 of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary diametric section of a fourth form of elevator apparatus embodying the invention;

FIGURE 16 is a horizontal section thereof taken substantially along the line 16-16 of FIGURE 15; and

FIGURE 17 is a graphic representation of the movement of the conveyor member and material therein.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in FIGURES 1 through 5 of the drawing, an elevator apparatus generally designated 10 is shown to include a column 11 fixedly secured to be inclined at a preselected angle to the horizontal, herein as by an upper socket 12 and a lower socket 13. Herein the sockets are illustrated as being carried by a frame 14. It should be understood, however, that the column sockets may be suitably supported by any suitable support means, such as the respective ceiling and floor structures of a building.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the column 11 carries adjacent its upper end a bearing 15 rotatably carrying a support 16. A framework 17 is secured to support 16 to depend therefrom. Adjacent its upper end the framework carries two pair of bearings 18 journalling a pair of rollers 19. At its lower end the framework carries two pair of bearings 20 journalling a pair of rollers 21. A pair of conveyor belts 22 are passed one each aboutthe respective upper and lower rollers of the roller pairs.

The frame 17 is rotated about the axis of column 11 by suitable means, herein an electric motor 23 having a pulley 24 driving a belt 25 engaging an annular track 26 secured about the frame 17 by a plurality of brackets 27. As best seen in FIGURE 5, the motor 23 may be secured to the outer frame 14 of the elevator. As the frame 17 is fixedly secured to the support 16, the support is rotated therewith about the column axis. As shown in FIGURE .4, the support 16 further carries a plurality of bearings 28 journalling a pair of coaxially aligned shafts 29. At their respective inner ends, each shaft 29 carries a bevel gear 30 meshing with a bevel gear 31 fixed to the column 11 adjacent the upper socket 12, Each of the shafts 29 carries at its outer end a pulley 32 for driving a belt 33 engaging a pulley 34 on the shaft 35 of the respective rollers 19.

Thus, as the framework 17 is rotated about the axis of column 11, the gears 30 are rotated by their meshing engagement with the fixed gear 31, thereby rotating the shafts 29 to drive the rollers 19. The rotation of rollers 19, in turn, causes the belts 22 to be driven in the manner of conventional conveyor belts. In the illustrated embodiment, the rotation of frame 17 is preselected to cause the opposed inner portions 22a of the conveyor belts to move upwardly in the direction of the arrows, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 4. Rotation of the frame work about the axis of column 11 causes the portions 22a of the belts to describe a surface of rotation which in the illustrated embodiment, is cylindrical.

Although the belts 22 are here illustrated as parallel to the column 11, it is plain that the only necessary limitation is that their relationship to the column be such as to cause centrifugal force produced by rotation of the column to retain the material on the belts. Accordingly, for example, the column might be vertical and the belts might diverge outwardly toward their upper ends so as to describe a generally frusto conical surface of rotation, rather than one which is cylindrical.

As indicated briefly above, the elevator is arranged to elevate all materials capable of being moved horizontally by a belt conveyor. Illustratively, the conveyor may be utilized to elevate particulate material, such as sand. The material to be elevatedimay be delivered to the lower end of the conveyor by suitable means, a hopper 36 being provided subjacent the lower end of the belts 22 to receive the material. Where the material to be elevated comprises particulate material or the like, it may be scooped onto the belt portions 22a by means of a pair of scoops 37 carried on the lower end of the frame 17 to rotate with the frame about the axis of column 11. The illustrated means for delivering the material onto the belt portions 22a is intended to be illustrative only, other suitable delivery means obviously may be employed for this purpose.

As the belts 2 2 trained about the respective upper and lower rollers 19 and 21 are being rotated bodily about the axis of column 11, the material delivered onto the belt portions 22a is retained thereagainst by centrifugal action. Further, as the belt portions 22a are being moved upwardly by the driven rotation of the upper rollers 19, the material is carried upwardly on the belts to the upper end thereof.

Surrounding the upper end of the belts and the framework 17 is a discharge chute 38. A frusto-conical deflector 39 overlying the upper ends of the belts intercepts the material as it flies radially outwardly from the belts where they turn about the upper rollers 19, and causes the material to fly downwardly into the space 40 within the discharge chute. The bottom wall 41 of the discharge chute is inclined downwardly to an outlet 42 where the material is directed for subsequent delivery as desired.

As a pair of conveyor belts 22 are provided opposite each other relative to the central axis of column 11, the mass of material on the respective belts automatically is substantially balanced, assuring facilitated efiicient operation of the elevator. The speed of rotation of the belts around the column axis need only be sufiicient to provide sufiicient centrifugal force to maintain the material on the belts. The rate of travel of the belts may be preselected for maximum efficiency, the rate of travel, obviously, being controllable by suitable selection of the bevel gears 31) and 31.

Turning now to FIGURES 6 through 8, a modified form of elevator generally designated 111 embodying the invention is shown to comprise an elevator generally similar to elevator 10, but having a modified form of scoops 157 comprising a pair of flat plates fixed to the framework 117, one each on opposite sides of the central axis of column 111 to adjacent the lower end of belt portions 122a. The plate-scoops are inclined downwardly in the direction of rotation of the framework 117 about the axis of column 111 to move through the hopper 136 during such rotation causing the material to be plowed upwardly on the scoops onto the belt portions 122a. Reference numerals similar to but one hundred higher have been applied to elements of elevator 116 corresponding to similar elements of elevator 10. Other than as noted above, elevator 110 is similar to and functions similarly to elevator 10.

Turning now to FIGURES 9 through 11, still another form of elevator generally designated 210 embodying the invention is shown to comprise an elevator having a fixed central column 211 rotatably carrying an upper support 216 on a bearing 215, and a lower support 243 on a lower bearing 213. The upper support is rotated about the axis of column 211 by a suitable drive such as including a belt 225. A pair of upright shafts 244 are journalled in upper bearings 245 carried on upper support 216 and lower bearings 246 carried on lower support 243. The shafts are rotated by means of a pair of belts 247 driven by pulleys 248 on the upper end of column 211, and driving pulleys A 249 on the upper end of shaft 244 as the shafts are rotated about the axis of column 211.

Each shaft 244 carries a helical screw member 250 which is rotated coaxial therewith as the shaft revolves about the axis of column 211. A pair of U-shaped troughs 251 are disposed circumjacent the screws. As best seen in FIGURE 10, the troughs open inwardly toward the axis of column 211. As shown in FIGURE 11, the lower ends of the troughs open circumferentially of the column axis, and are provided with circumferentially extending scoop elements 252. The troughs are suitably fixed relative to the supports 216 and 243, and the lower ends of the troughs 251 and screws 250 are disposed within a hopper 236, as shown in FIGURE 9.

Thus, as the supports 216 and 243 are rotated about the axis of column 211, they revolve the shafts 244 and the troughs 251 in an annular path concentric with the column axis. Material in hopper 236 is scooped upwardly by the scoops 252 and thrown radially outwardly of the axis of column 211 by the centrifugal force developed as a result of the rotation of the troughs in the annular path about the column axis. The screws 250 are rotated suitably to cause the material held against the radially outer portions of the troughs by the centrifugal force to move upwardly by screw conveyor action to be discharged outwardly from the upper ends of the troughs. A suitable discharge chute (not shown) may be installed surrounding the upper end of the elevator 210 to deliver the elevated material as in elevator ltl. Elements of elevator 210 similar to those of elevator 10 are identified by the same reference numerals, but two hundred higher. Other than as discussed above, elevator 219 is similar to and functions similarly to elevator 10.

Turning now to FIGURES 12 through 14, yet another form of elevator generally designated 319 embodying the invention is shown to comprise an elevator generally similar to elevator 210, but having a pair of tubular enclosures 351 fixedly secured to the screws 350 in lieu of the U-shaped troughs 251 of elevator 210. Thus, material delivered into the bottom of the tubular enclosures from the hopper 336 by a pair of stationary scoops 352 is moved upwardly through the tubular enclosures by an Archimedes screw action wherein the material is urged continuously radially outwardly of the axis of central column 311. As no movement occurs between the screws 350 and the tubular enclosures 351, the movement of the material upwardly is caused by the fact that the outermost portion of the screws relative to the axis of column 311 eflYectively moves constantly upwardly whereby the material is moved constantly upwardly to be discharged from the upper end of the tubular enclosures. Reference numerals similar to the reference numerals applied to corresponding elements of elevator 10, but three hundred higher are applied to the elements of elevator 311). Other than as noted above, elevator 310 functions similarly to and is structurally similar to elevators 10 and 210.

. Referring now to FIGURES 15 through 17, still another elevator generally designated 410 embodying the invention is shown to comprise a central column 411 vertically axially reciprocated by a shaker drive generally designated 453 such as disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,029,133. A pair of collars 454 are fixed to column 411 adjacent. its upper end between which is retained a hub 455 having a plurality of radially outwardly extending arms 456 secured at their distal ends to the upper end of a tubular carrier 457. Adjacent its lower end the column 411 is provided with a second pair of collars 458 between which is mounted a hub 459 carrying a plurality .of arms 460 secured to the lower end of the tubular carrier 457. The carrier is rotated about the axis of column 411 by a suitable drive, such as including belt 425. As shown in FIGURE 15, the upper end of column 411 is axially movably and rotatably retained in a bearing 461. The lower end of the column extends downwardly sealingly through a hopper 436, the lower end of the column being connected to the shaker mechanism necting link 462.

In operation, elevator 410 functions to elevate material by a vertical reciprocation of the carrier 457 to effect movement-of the material in accordance with the illustrative graph of FIGURE 17. The material is urged against the inner surface 463 of carrier 457 by centrifugal force as a result of the rotation of the carrier by the belt 425 about the axis of column 411. As the carrier moves upwardly faster and faster, as shown by graph full line segment a in FIGURE 17, the velocity of the material as illustrated by the dotted line representation is substantially the same as the carrier, thus, the material effectively moves upwardly directly with the carrier. Upon reaching a peak upward speed, the velocity of the carrier 457 is rapidly decreased, as shown byline segment b. The quick decrease continues until the direction of motion of the carrier is actually reversed and accelerated downwardly to a maximum downward velocity as indicated by the line segment 0. Then, as indicated by the line segment d, the downward velocity is slowly decreased until the downward movement of the carrier becomes zero, whereupon the carrier moves upwardly at the velocity of line segment a to repeat the cycle. During the downward high speed movement of the carrier indicated by segments b and c, the material on the conveyor is prevented from directly following the downward movement of the conveyor by virtue of the inertia of the material tending to move it upwardly. Thus, the velocity of the material does not follow the line segments b and c in the graph of FIGURE 17, but rather follows the dotted line segment e. The decrease in the velocity of the material may continue until the material actually has a slight downward velocity, as illustrated by the dotted line segment 1. The small downward velocity increases slowly until it is equal to the decreasing downward velocity of the carrier at point g on line segment whereupon the material again moves directly with the carrier firstly at a decreasing downward velocity and then at a slowly increasing upward velocity, as indicated by line segment a. In this manner, the material is inclined upwardly on the carrier 457 and thereby effectively elevated from the hopper 436 to the upper end of the carrier where it is discharged radially outwardly to be guided by the surrounding discharge chute 438.

The lower end of the carrier 457 is provided with a downwardly narrowing frusto-conical portion 464 which dips into the material in hopper 436 at the downward extreme of movement thereof to effect the delivery of the material into the carrier to be retained against the surface 463 by the above discussed centrifugal forces. Obviously, other forms of delivery means may be employed. In describing elevator 410, reference numerals similar to but four hundred higher than reference numerals applied to corresponding elements of elevator have been employed. Other than as noted above elevator 410 is similar to and functions similarly to elevator 10.

Each of elevators 10, 110, 210, 310 and 410 functions to elevate the material by operation of a translating means acting to move the material upwardly while the material is urged into translatable association with the translating means by centrifugal forces resulting from the bodily rotation of the translating means about an axis parallel to the direction of upward translation. In each of the elevators the material is effectively, evenly distributed diametrically oppositely of the axis of revolution of the translating means so that self-balancing of the elevator is obtained. Thus, the inventions herein disclosed provide economical and effective elevation of the material to be elevated. The elevators are simple and economical of construction and require effectively minimum maintenance.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the con- 453 by a suitable con-- struction and arrangement ing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. An elevator for elevating material which is capable of being moved horizontally by means of a horizontally arranged conveyor, said elevator comprising:

conveyor means having a material carrying surface upon which selected material may be moved in an upward direction at an angle to the horizontal greater than that at which said selected material would normally be moved downwardly along said surface by gravity, said carrying surface having a lower end and an upper end;

means for directing said selected material toward the lower end of said surface;

means for rotating said conveyor means about an axis of rotation so that said carrying surface describes a surface of rotation that extends concentrically upwardly about said axis, said means rotating the conveyor means at a speed which retains the material on said carrying surface by centrifugal force;

and moving means continuously moving the carrying surface to move selected material toward the upper end of the carrying surface while said material is 'retained on the surface by centrifugal force.

2. The elevator of claim 1 in which the conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor belt affording a carrying surface that faces the axis of rotation, and in which the moving means drives the conveyor belt to move said surface continually upwardly.

3. The elevator of claim 1 which includes a single power drive, and power train means connecting the power drive with said rotating means and with said moving means.

4. The elevator of claim 1 which includes. means mounting the carrying surface for endwise reciprocating motion, and in which the moving means moves said surface toward its upper end at a relatively low speed so that the selected material does not slip on said surface, and toward its lower end at a relatively high speed so that the selected material remains substantially in its attained position while the surface slips downwardly with respect to it, whereby said reciprocating motion moves the selected matenial incrementally toward said upper end.

5. The elevator of claim 1 in which the axis of rotation of the conveyor means is at to the horizontal.

6. The elevator of claim 1 in which the surface of rotation is a cylinder.

7. The elevator of claim 1 in which the material directing means includes a pick-up plow that rotates with the conveyor.

8. The elevator of claim 1 in which the conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor belt afiording a carrying surface that faces the axis of rotation, in which the moving means drives the conveyor belt to move said surface continually upwardly, and in which the material directing means includes a pick-up plow adjacent the conveyor belt and rotatable therewith.

9. The elevator of claim 1 which includes a shaft on the axis of rotation, radial arms at the upper and lower ends of said shaft, and in which the conveyor means is carried on said arms.

10. The elevator of claim 2 in which the conveyor means comprises two endless conveyor belts on opposite sides of the axis of rotation and equidistant therefrom.

11. The elevator of claim 8 in which the pick-up plow comprises a flat member which is inclined to the axis of rotation and to the carrying surface of the belt, and which has a lowermost end below the lower end of the belt.

12. An elevator for elevating material which is capamay be made without departble of being moved horizontally by means of a horizontally arranged conveyor, said elevator comprising:

a base and upright sidewall defining a container for selected material to be elevated; conveyor means having a material carrying surface upon which selected material may be moved in an upward direction at an angle to the horizontal greater than that at which said selected material would normally be moved downwardly along said surface by gravity, said carrying surface having a lower end within said container and an upper end; inclined means at the lower end of the conveyor means for directing said selected material from the container toward the lower end of said surface;

means for rotating said conveyor means about an axis of rotation so that said carrying surface describes a surface of rotation that extends concentrically upwardly about said axis, said means rotating the conveyor means at a speed which retains the material on said carrying surface by centrifugal force;

and moving means continuously moving the conveyor means to move selected material toward the upper end of the carrying surface while said material is retained on the surface by centrifugal force.

13. The elevator of claim 12 in which the material carrying surface is arcuate, and the conveyor means includes a shaft on the axis of said arcuate surface, a helical conveying member on the shaft which has an outer edge adjacent said arcuate carrying surface, and in which the moving means rotates said shaft so that the helical member moves the selected material toward the upper end of said surface.

14. The elevator of claim 12 in which the conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor belt affording a carrying surface that faces the axis of rotation, and in 8 which the moving means drives the conveyor belt to move said surface continually upwardly.

15. The elevator of claim 12 which includes means mounting the carrying surface for endwise reciprocating motion, and in which the moving means moves said surface toward its upper end at a relatively low speed so that the selected material does not slip on said surface, and toward its lower end at a relatively high speed so that the selected material remains substantially in its attained position while the surface slips downwardly with respect to it, whereby said reciprocating motion References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 94,971 Plumb Sept. 21, 1869 2,514,159 Ionsson July 4, 1950 2,805,762 Kampfer Sept. 10, 1957 2,822,127 Sinn Feb. 4, 1958 2,833,394 Cordis May 6, 1958 3,062,375 Palm Nov. 6, 1962 

1. AN ELEVATOR FOR ELEVATING MATERIAL WHICH IS CAPABLE OF BEING MOVED HORIZONTALLY BY MEANS OF A HORIZONTALLY ARRANGED CONVEYOR, SAID ELEVATOR COMPRISING: CONVEYOR MEANS HAVING A MATERIAL CARRYING SURFACE UPON WHICH SELECTED MATERIAL MAY BE MOVED IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION AT AN ANGLE TO THE HORIZONTAL GREATER THAN THAT AT WHICH SAID SELECTED MATERIAL WOULD NORMALLY BE MOVED DOWNWARDLY ALONG SAID SURFACE BY GRAVITY, SAID CARRYING SURFACE HAVING A LOWER END AND AN UPPER END; MEANS FOR DIRECTING SAID SELECTED MATERIAL TOWARD THE LOWER END OF SAID SURFACE; MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CONVEYOR MEANS ABOUT AN AXIS OF ROTATION SO THAT SAID CARRYING SURFACE DESCRIBES A SURFACE OF ROTATION THAT EXTENDS CONCENTRICALLY UPWARDLY ABOUT SAID AXIS, SAID MEANS ROTATING THE CONVEYOR MEANS AT A SPEED WHICH RETAINS THE MATERIAL ON SAID CARRYING SURFACE BY CENTRIFUGAL FORCE; AND MOVING MEANS CONTINUOUSLY MOVING THE CARRYING SURFACE TO MOVE SELECTED MATERIAL TOWARD THE UPPER END OF THE CARRYING SURFACE WHILE SAID MATERIAL IS RETAINED ON THE SURFACE BY CENTRIFUGAL FORCE. 